Richard Dean Long

Richard Dean Long, 94, of Tyhee, Idaho returned to his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family members at home on the Bringhurst family farm where he had lived with his family.

Richard was born on August 17, 1929, in Franklin, Idaho to William Richard Long and Irene Gamble. He lived with his family in Franklin until the family moved to Mount Clemens, Michigan in 1943 where his father found work in a factory. Richard left school and worked as an electrician apprentice to help support his family. He, along with his mother and sister, LaRene, moved back to Idaho and lived in Preston after his father died in a factory accident in 1946.

In 1948, Richard moved to Pocatello where he met the love of his life, Marlene Bringhurst, at a church dance in Tyhee. They soon fell in love and he proposed to her at the Bringhurst family home during a church mutual activity.

Soon after their engagement, Richard accepted a call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was assigned to labor in the Southern States Mission from September 1949 until September 1951.

Following his return from his mission, He married Marlene on October 12, 1951 in the Idaho Falls Temple. The two moved to Provo, Utah so Richard could attend Brigham Young University in 1952. Soon after, he was drafted during the Korean War and ultimately joined the United States Air Force where he received training as an electrician and powerline worker. He was stationed in Korea from 1953 to 1954. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1955 and returned to live with his wife and family on the Bringhurst farm in Tyhee. Richard and Marlene were best friends and loved each other through the joy, grief, health, and sickness of life.

Richard was hired by Westinghouse as an electrician in 1957 and worked for the company at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory until he retired in 1995. He also worked the family farm with his sons, Blair, Jeffrey, and Dwight for many years.

Richard was a devoted and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He held many church callings including a local seventy, as a counselor in a bishopric and branch presidency, and was a faithful and devoted home teacher. He also served as a temple worker in the Idaho Falls Temple with his wife.

Richard enjoyed relaxing after a hard-days’ work and reading the scriptures. He loved reading the Old Testament and discussing the great prophecies of the ancient prophets. He also loved learning about history, particularly of the American Civil War. He loved being with his family, fishing, hunting, canoeing, and taking Salmon River floating trips with friends. He especially loved root beer and had fond memories of going to the old A&W Restaurant in Pocatello after dances with Marlene.

Richard is survived by four children; Nanette (Oscar Delfin), Jeffrey (Doreen), Dwight (Sheri), and Nathan (Jill); grandchildren Audrey Delfin Papel (Kevin), Curtis Delfin (Joytina), Shawn Delfin (Victoria), Brett Long, Jordan Long, Mariah Hoffmann (Kindell), Adam Long (Lauren), Maddy, Benjamin, and Rachel Long; great-grandchildren Keoki Delfin, Clark Long, Wells Hoffmann, and two more great-grandchildren on the way. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene B. Long, his son Blair R. Long, his parents, his brothers Lamar and Alton Long, and sisters Maxine Rowell and LaRene Anderson.

The family expresses their gratitude for the love and kindness shown to our father by his physicians, nurses, caregivers from the Veterans Administration, and the Enhabit Home Health and Hospice caregivers as they tended to his physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.

A viewing will be held at Wilks Funeral Home in Chubbuck, Idaho on Friday, February 23, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

A graveside service will be held at the Restlawn Memorial Garden Cemetery in Pocatello, Idaho on Saturday, February 24, at 1:00 pm.

A memorial service will be held at the Bringhurst Chapel located at 147 Bringhurst, Chubbuck, Idaho on a date and time to be determined.

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